The comeback special was filmed with 400 fans on set and unveiled the first ever live performance of title track, “I Got A Boy“, as well as an interview segment during which the members shared their personal stories. The highly anticipated broadcast left many fans questioning the low ratings but it could be because it aired on New Years and late in the evening (11:45PM).

2. [+510, -204] ㅋㅋㅋ People kept saying the song sounds similar to Crayon so I went and listened to it for the first time and... are you guys deaf? Just because it's a club tune, you guys are making that omparison?? There's such a huge difference between the two songs

3. [+336, -92] An entire show dedicated to their comeback seems a bit overkill

4. [+150, -56] Daebak... disappointed

5. [+148, -68] Seohyun's face has really swelled up ㅠㅠ she looks like a piggy bank

6. [+142, -209] I thought the song would be an utter failure when I first listened to it but the performance was great and now I like the song ㅎ

7. [+135, -31] If a rookie group came out with this song, would it have caught this much attention? Honestly speaking, the song itself is bad

8. [+118, -23] I served in the army so there's no doubt that I'm a Soshi fan but wow, I'm going crazy ㅋㅋㅋ maybe it's because I'm used to being too impressed by Psy's stages lately and I expected there to be a bit of a let down in SNSD's comeback but this is just so bad ㅋㅋㅋ

9. [+105, -166] Everyone had a great live, it was an amazing stage!! The best

10. [+103, -31] I'm a guy and I'm losing interest in SNSD with each release. I think they're losing their worth as a product... And they're 25 years old now, their name's a bit of a mismatch.

2. [+645, -37] A common misunderstanding with broadcast officials is that they seem to think they will get high viewer ratings no matter what ifthere is an idol on the show. Inkigayo's viewer ratings are in the 4% range, and don't they remember that Sunday Night tried to salvage itselfby bringing in SNSD and still failed... Idols are only popular with their specific fanbase.. They have nothing to do with viewer ratings.

3. [+613, -93] Isn't this to be expected? Who would start the first day of the New Year watching some idol's comeback show unless they're pathetic with nothing else to do? Only otakus or elementary/junior high school students on winter break would do that. Do you guys have nothing better to do with your time? Teach yourself something new in that time.

1. [+286, -42] Yoona, pease don't rap... I'm seriously so embarrassed for them... Why do they think they can pull hip hop off ㅡㅡ Practice singing in that time instead... I really hate it when idols rap because they can't sing

2. [+248, -23] Please don't rap ㅠㅠ please ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

3. [+232, -20] Mmm... Yes... I felt like I was listening to many songs at once..

4. [+63, -13] Everyone who said the performance would be better than the song lied

5. [+59, -9] Seriously, don't rap. Actually, don't even call the song hip hop. Just stick to your concept like your name, something girlish and sweet. Not only do they not match hip hop but I almost grew 8 legs out of embarrassment for them when they said A YO GG.

1. [+232, -28] This is the first time I thought I would lose my ears while listening to a song

2. [+205, -22] Sunny's gotten a lot more stable compared to the past. Yoona and Sooyoung just sounded like they were singing a children's song.. Everyone kept saying all of their lives improved so I gave it a view but you really can't call their level of talent that of a singer with 5 years of experience under their belt... They're just pretty, it doesn't seem like they have any intention of improving their vocals. Yuri and Hyoyeon, however, really did improve.

3. [+200, -23] All of the replies calling the performance pretty?? Yeah they're pretty but you seem to forget that their main career is singing ㅋㅋ A singer needs to be able to sing well regardless of how ugly they are. It looks like they're just relying on otakus calling them pretty no matter what. SNSD needs to practice their singing more aside from a few of them. And people keep blaming their composer for the song but that's double standards right there. Did Super Junior ever write their own songs?

1. [+169, -20] Did Sooyoung get work done on her face? They should try to be discreet with these things. Men usually can't tell but I can tell right away

2. [+158, -27] I like Soshi... but this song is so bad.. Can't they please change to another song ㅠㅠ Is it too late?? Am I the only one that thinks this song is ridiculous...

3. [+147, -21] Exactly what is fresh and amazing about this? SNSD seems to be getting lost in the mountains with each release. They were legendary during Genie, but their quality has been on the downfall since then. I thought at least up to The Boys, it was still worth a listen but I don't even know what to say about I Got a Boy... It must be so difficult for their fans to shield this...

perhaps it's interesting to point out that idols' comeback specials don't really get good ratings. According AGB Nielsen Media, BoA's comeback scored 3.2%, and Big Bang's, 3.0%.EDIT: The ratings I mentioned are only for 2012 btw

Idols are only popular with their specific fanbase. They have nothing to do with viewer ratings.

MTE. For the most part the fanbase is the only group watching the special, while other programs appeal to a wider audience.

But I really liked the special! Tiffany's voice is getting stronger again and I'm so proud of her. Hyoyeon, Yuri, and Henry's performance was nice. Seohyun looked precious during Speak Now. And Marry You was adorable.

I highly doubt anyone other than actual fans will watch an idol's comeback special at near midnight on New Years. I mean, I live streamed it at 6:15am because I hardcore stan them and have no life rofl

Korea hated Gee when it first came out and look at how popular that got lol

"A common misunderstanding with broadcast officials is that they seem to think they will get high viewer ratings no matter what if there is an idol on the show. Inkigayo's viewer ratings are in the 4% range, and don't they remember that Sunday Night tried to salvage itself by bringing in SNSD and still failed... Idols are only popular with their specific fanbase.. They have nothing to do with viewer ratings."

THANK YOU. I hope one day international fans will finally absorb the fact that idols are generally irrelevant in Korea, unlike actors and real artists.

Honourable mention to these netizens:

"All of the replies calling the performance pretty?? Yeah they're pretty but you seem to forget that their main career is singing ㅋㅋ A singer needs to be able to sing well regardless of how ugly they are."

"The song is trashier than Super Junior, more convoluted than f(x), and makes about as much sense as Orange Caramel."

"If a rookie group came out with this song, would it have caught this much attention? Honestly speaking, the song itself is bad."

[+286, -42] Yoona, pease don't rap... I'm seriously so embarrassed for them... Why do they think they can pull hip hop off ㅡㅡ Practice singing in that time instead... I really hate it when idols rap because they can't sing

IA that Yuri and Hyoyeon are pretty much the only ones that have improved vocally, all the others seem to have the same skill they had when they debuted. But I do like the song, it might be "too produced" or "all over the place", but it's something different and catchy (?), like I was getting bored all idols were giving me the same shit. And all the other performances on the show were boring except for Yuri's and Hyo's, tbh, I'm a little disappointed with Tiffany's... I mean, call me maybe? really?...

"They were legendary during Genie, but their quality has been on the downfall since then."

I love them but I agree with this. The songs are always fun and all but... lacks something. I guess, overall, K-Pop has already seen its best days and now we have to get used to Frankenstein songs like IGAB XD

Compared to most other K-pop idols, SNSD are good singers. They've improved a lot since last year. Before that though......

Anyway, people can keep hating on it. Not gonna change the fact that it's being well received by most fans which is all that matters. Obviously they're never gonna top 'Gee' or 'Genie' for most people since they seem to praise that era all the damn time lol.

Wow that's a lot of hatred their getting...I personally don't think their comeback stage was bad.I was surprised to see most of them so stable with their voices.And while of course they sing, the quoted commenters are forgetting that they're no singers but idols. Sadly there are not a lot of idols that can sing really good, because they have to be 'good' at other things too (variety, acting, looks). Because that's what an idol has to have (according to the media).I kinda like their new song, but this special wasn't necessary.I wonder if SME will ever lose their influence...

My reaction initially was "Oh shit SM fucked it up THEY HAD EVERYTHING GOING FOR THEM WHY" I mean, the I got a boy~ chorus was catchy as fuck and would've made a great song. I can even forgive the Oooh ayoo parts. The lack of transitions really was their downfall but then TaeNy's completely unnecessary emotive singing parts came in and... Why couldn't they have just let Jessica sing ONE BRIDGE for the song rather than TWO unnecessary bridges that are completely disconnected?

AND YET parts of the song have been in my head all. day. long. :( I seriously dunno wtf is gonna come out of this comeback. I hope they don't flop but... SM really needs to learn a lesson.